Billfold



June 6, 19. L. L. GARDNER 2,350,503

B ILLFOLD Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Shets-Sheet 1 1959 147 ToeA/EK June 6,1944. L. 1.. GARDNER 2,359,503

BILLFOLD Filed Aug. 24, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EYWAW Patented June 6,1944 U NlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE BILLFOLD Leah L. Gardner, UniversityCity, Mo.

Application August 24, 1942, Serial No. 455,867

2 Claims.

This invention relates to bill folds; and has special reference to abill fold having a short pocket wall attached to the concealed sidethereof, in combination with an auxiliary case or enclosure that may beconnected with the bill fold in a manner to cooperate with said shortwall in a novel manner to support the auxiliary case or enclosureconnected with the bill fold.

An object of the invention is to provide a bill fold that is foldabletransversely about midway of its ends to enclose and conceal a shortpocket on one of the end portions of the bill'fold, in

combination with an auxiliary case or enclosure having an end portionextendable into said short pocket and engageable against three sidesthereof to assist in placing said case or enclosure in proper positionon the bill fold, and means for interlocking the case or enclosure withthe exposed wall of the said short pocket.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved bill fold thatis foldableitransversely approximately midway of its ends and providedwith an auxiliary case or enclosure connected with the bill fold andwith said short pocket in a novel cooperative relationship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel foldable enclosureadapted for connection with a bill fold in a manner to hold theenclosure closed or to permit the said enclosure to be opened to ailordaccess to the inside thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bill fold having anauxiliary pocket detachably secured thereto and formed with an openupper side, and means for closing the open side of said pocket.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description, referencebeing made to the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. l is a plan viewshowing the bill fold extended orunfolded, and having the auxiliary caseor enclosure attached to one end thereof and the detachable pocketconnected with the other end thereof so that both said enclosure andsaid pocket will be covered and concealed when the bill fold is folded.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view with parts broken away and in sectionshowing the manner in which my improved auxiliary case or enclosure isdetachably connected with the bill fold.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the auxiliary case or enclosure detachedfrom the bill fold and extended in open position, a part of onesupporting frame or pocket being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing another form of case or enclosure attachedto the bill fold in a modified manner.

Fig. -6 is a plan view showing said other form of case or enclosuredetached from the bill fold and extended to open position, a part of oneof the pocket walls. thereof being broken away.

Fig. '7 is a plan view showing another modification of the auxiliarycase or enclosure.

Fig. 8 is a view showing the auxiliary case or enclosure of Fig. 7extended to open position, one wall of one of the pockets thereof beingremoved.

The bill fold in which the present invention is embodied, or with whichit is combined, comprises an elongated outer wall 5 having wall membersattached thereto along a portion of their lower longitudinal edges andalong their end edges. The upper longitudinal edge of said outer wall isunattached to the upper longitudinal edges of said wall members, so thatsaid outer wall and said wall members cooperateto form an elongatedpocket adapted to receive and enclose bills of currency and otherpapers. The completed bill fold is foldable transversely about midway ofits ends along a transverse fold line 2. The wall members formrelatively short pockets on-the end portions of the bill fold. Theserelatively short pockets have open inner ends toward the fold line 2 andare closed at their outer 30 ends and along their lower and upper edges.

As shown, a short pocket wall 3 is integral with one end of the wall Iand is folded inwardly toward the fold line 2. A cooperating short Dcket wall A is formed integral with the upper edge of the wall 3 and isfolded to extend downwardly between the walls 9 and 3, and has its loweredge attached to the wall 3 and its inner end unattached to said wall 3.Thus, the walls 3 and A cooperate to form a relatively short pockethaving an inner open end adjacent to the fold line 2 and having itsouter end and lowerand upper sides closed. The lower margin of the wall3 is securely attached to the lower margin of the wall 8 by an inwardlyand upwardly extended tab 5 formed integral with the'lower edge of thewall l and terminating at the inner end of the wall 3' the walls 3 and 4may beread through said panel.

Another short pocket wall I is integral with v the opposite end of thewall I from the short pocket wall 3 and is folded inwardly toward thefold line 2. It has a cooperating short pocket '6 wall 8 integral withits upper edge and folded to extend downwardly between the walls I andI, having its lower edge attached to the wall I and its inner and outerends unattached to said wall.

The walls I and 3 cooperate to form a short- 4 wall I.

The auxiliary case or separate enclosure comprises a flexible andpliable wall of leather or the like, including a relatively wide endportion I 3 and a relatively narrow end portion II integrally united bya transverse foldable hinge i2. Shoulders l3 are iormed at the attachedends of the portions I and II and cooperate with the hinge I2 to definesaid portions from each other and also to engage against the inner endof the pocket 3-4 when the auxiliary case or separate enclosure isattached to the bill fold. The outer end of the portion II is formedmidway of its upper and lower edges with a narrow freely bendable andpliable tongue I4. The integral connection I attaching the-outer ends ofthe walls I and 3 is provided with a relatively short slot I6havingnearly the same length as the width of the tongue I4 so that saidtongue may be extended through said slot when the end portion II isinserted within the pocket between the Walls 3 and 4. There is a directcooperation between the outer end of the. portion I I and the shouldersI3 at the inner end of said portion II. The outer end of the portion IIengages against the closed end I5 of the pocket formed between the walls3 and 4, while the shoulders I3 engage against the attached portions ofsaid walls. By this construction, the portion II'may be made of the samelength as, and somewhat narrower than the inside width of the pocketbetween the walls 3 and 4, thus considerably facilitating the properinsertion, and also the withdrawal, of said portion II withoutfrictional contact with the side edges of said pocket. The tongue I4extended through the relatively short slot I6, and the shoulders I3engaged against the attached edges of the walls 3 and 4, directlycooperate to prevent lateral displacement of the auxiliary case orseparate enclosure relative to the billiold.

When said case or enclosure is attached to the bill fold, the endportion III may be folded outwardly toward the wall 3 with its outer endterminating inwardly beyond and protected by said wall 3. .The tongue I4may be folded inwardly and slipped through a loop I1 attached to thewall portion I0. Thus, the auxiliary case or separate enclosure may bedetachably secured to the bill fold with the end of the portion IIengaging against the end wall of the pocket and the tapered shoulders I3held against the attachment between the inner and outer walls of thepocket to hold said case or enclosure from lateral displacement. In thisproper position in which the auxiliar case or separate-enclosure isdetachably secured to the bill fold, the side edges and ends thereof areinwardly beyondthe side edges and end of the bill fold and are protectedthereby.

A hinge I3 is attached to the wider portion I0 adjacent "to theshoulders l3 and inwardly guarded and beyond mam l3. When the portion uis extended into the pocket as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 with the endthereof engaging and abutting against the end wall of the pocket. andthe shoulders l3 eng g g the side edges of the pocket, the hinge I3 isinwardly beyond the end of the wall 3 so that said hinge may be freelyoperated without restraint by said wall 3. The part II, and the end edgeof the portion I l of the elongated wali III-I I, constitute means onsaid walls for limiting extent of movement of said portion II into thepocket provided by the walls 3 and 4 and by said part I5; to prevent thehinge device I3 from entering said pocket; to prevent said hinge devicefrom rolling, chafing. or otherwise marring the end of the wall 3: andto hold the parts in a position in which the hinge device It is at'alltimes freely operative. That is, the part I5 attached to the shortwalls, and the end of the wall portion II, prevent the hinge device I8fraom pressing against the end of the short wall A number of pairs oftransparent walls I3-2l and 2 I-22 have one end of each attached to thehinge I8 and the upper and lower margins of each pair of wallspermanently attached together by flexible strips 23, leaving the outerends of each pair of walls unattached. Thus, each pair of walls Ill-20and 2I22 forms a pocket open at one end and closed at the opposite endand along its upper and lower sides. When the auxiliary case or separateenclosure is closed, as shown in Fig.-l, the pockets therein are alsoclosed; and, when said case or enclosure is opened as shown in'Fig. 2,the pockets therein are also opened.

An auxiliary pocket iorholding small change and other articles isdetachably secured to the wall I by snap fasteners 24. A flap 25 inconnection with the rear wall 26 of this auxiliary pocket is foldabledownwardly against the front wall 21 and may be attachedthereto by afamiliar snap fastener device 28 which is releasable to afford access tothe inside of the pocket. This pocket is open at its upper side which istoward the open upper side ofthe pocket provided by the wall i and theattached wall members, and is closed at its ends by infolded end walls28.

The auxiliary case or separate enclosure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 alsocomprises integrally connected flexible and pliable walls of leather orthe like, includinga relatively wide portion 30 analogous to therelatively; wide portion Ill, and a relatively narrow portion 3I similarto the portion II. The wall portion 30 is integrally connected at itsinner end with the inner endoi the portion ill by a hinge 32. The narrowportion 3I is formed withan extended tongue 33 in connection with itsouter end adapted to extend through the slot I6 in the same manner andfor the same purpose as the tongue I4. The portion 3i may be inserted inand withdrawn from the pocket between the walls 3 and 4, and the tongue33 extended through the slot IS. The outer end of the portion 3| engagesagainst the end wall or the pocket, and the edge of the integral hingeconnection 32 may engage the inner end of the pocket. This leaves thewall portion 30 free to be folded up in closed position, as shown, inFig. 5, and held in that 33. through a loop 34. A hinge 35 is attachedto parent walls I9-20 and 2I22, have one end 1 position by passing thetongue.

of each attached to the hinge 35 and the upper and lower margins of eachpair of walls permanently attached together by flexible strips 38,leaving the outer ends of each pair of wall unattached. Thus, each ofsaid pairs of walls 36 and 31 forms a pocket open at one end, and closedat the opposite end and also along its upper and lower sides. When thisauxiliary case or enclosure is closed as shown in Fig. 5, the pocketstherein are also closed. When the case or enclosure is opened as shownin Fig. 2, the pockets therein are also opened and may be swung apart,as indicated in Fig. 2, or laid fiatwise upon each other, as shown in.Fig. 6. This auxiliary case or separate enclosure may, like that shownin Fig.

4, be mounted in or attached to the bill fold, or may be detached fromthe bill fold and used separately as desired. The bill fold to which theenclosure is shown attached (Fig. is like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and like reference numerals are applied to like parts of the bill foldper se.

The device shown in Figs. 7 and 8 comprises an enclosure or casepermanently connected with the bill fold so that the two may not bedetached from each other. As shown, short pocket walls 39 and 40 areattached to the elongated outer wall 4| along their lower and outer endedges by stitches 42 or otherwise. The walls 39 and 40 are integrallyconnected along their upper edges to form an inwardly open pocketadjacent to the transverse fold line 43 of the bill fold. These wallmembers cooperate with the elongated outer wall 4| to form an elongatedpocket adapted to receive and enclose bills of currency and otherpapers. The outer wall 4| is formed with a downwardly extended shortwall 44, the inner edge 45 of which terminates adjacent to thetransverse fold line 43 or the bill mm, while the outer edge 46 isspaced inwardly a short distance from the outer ends of the walls 39 and4|. The integral connection between the walls 4| and 39, and may besecured in that position by a fastener element 48 connected with thewall 44 engaging a fastener element 49 connected with the wall 39. I

A hinge 50 is attached to the outer end margin of the wall 44. A numberof pairs of transparent walls SI and 52 have one end of each attached tothe hinge 50, and the upper and lower margins of each pair of wallspermanently attached together by flexible strips 53, leaving the innerends of each oi. said pairs of walls unattached. Thus, each pair oiwalls SI and 52 forms a pocket open at one end and closed at theopposite end and along its upper and lowensides. When this case isclosed as shown in Fig. 7, these I 44 comprises a hinge 41, so that thewall 4| may be folded upwardly to cover and enclose the wall pockets areenclosed between the walls 39 and 44;

and, when the bill told is folded, it is impossible for any 01' the cardcontents of said pockets to become detached or removed.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this invention, which comprisesan auxiliary case or enclosure connected with the bill fold in a novelmanner, attains all or its intended objects and purposes. The bill toldmy be iolded transversely about midway oi itsends to cover and encloseeither specific type or enclosure. In the case of the invention shown inFigs. 1 and 5, the auxiliary case or enclosure engages both oppositeends of the short pocket wall device and cooperates directly therewithto hold the auxiliary case in proper position and prevent lateral displacement. The integral connection shown in Figs. 7 and 8 also preventsrelative displacement of the auxiliary case and holds the partspermanently in proper relationship.

I claim:

1. In a bill fold having an elongated outer wall provided with atransverse fold line midway of its ends, two relatively short wallssupported at the inner side of one end portion of said outer wallforming a pocket closed along its upper and lower sides and having itsinner end open throughout the width of said pocket laterally beyond saidfold line, a connection substantially closing the outer end of saidpocket and attaching the outer end-of one of said short walls to .an endof said outer wall, said connection having a slot vtherethrough, anelongated wall having one end portion insertable in said pocket throughsaid open end to engage the end of said portion against said connectionand having another end portion foldable toward and from said first endportion, a hinge device attached to said second end portion andsupported thereby beyond the inner end of said pocket when said firstend portion is in said pocket and has its said end abutting againstsaidconnection, means forming a pocket having one end attached to said hingedevice, a tongue integral with said first end portion of less width thansaid pocket removably extending through said slot and beyond saidconnection when said first end portion is wholly within said pocket, andmeans for attaching said tongue to said second end portion when saidfirst end portion is wholly within said pocket as afore-' said.

2. In a bill fold having an elongated outer wall provided with atransverse fold line midway of its ends, two relatively short wallssupported at the inner side of one end portion of said outer wallforming a pocket closed along its upper and lower side and having itsinner end open throughout the width of said pocket laterally beyond saidfold line, and a connection substantially closing the outer end ofsaidpocket and attaching the outer end of the exposed one of said shortwalls to an end of said outer wall and having a relatively short slottherethrough; a wall portion ageable by said tongue for holding saidsecond wall portion folded toward said first wall portion and alsopreventing withdrawal of said first wall portion from said first namedpocket.

LEAH L. GARDNER.

